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Public Safety

St. John's Public Safety officers engage in routine motorized and foot patrols on a 24-hour basis. The officers are stationed at various posts throughout campus. Some of these posts include but are not limited to the following places on the Queens campus: the main gate, Carnesecca Arena, and in the Libraries. Public Safety officers are also posted in the six Queens campus Residence Halls: Century, Carey, DaSilva, Hollis, Donovan and John Cardinal O’Connor Residence Hall. On the Staten Island campus, these posts include: Flynn Hall, Mahoney Hall, Campus Center, Main Information Booth, and rear parking lot. On the Manhattan Campus, a Public Safety Officer is posted at the main desk.

Emergency Contact Numbers

On campus, you also can receive the latest emergency information via Audix, the University’s voice mail system. Off campus, call these numbers:

Closure and Emergency Information: 718-990-2000

Queens

Manhattan

718-990-5252

212-277-5155

Staten Island

Oakdale

718-390-4487

718-374-1435

Information about emergencies in our surrounding communities is available thanks to Public Safety’s close working relationship with the NYPD, FDNY and Office of Emergency Management.

Reporting a Criminal Act

Any violation of campus regulations or a criminal act should be reported immediately either in person or via the phone to the appropriate authority, either the Department of Public Safety or the Dean of Students of the respective campus. Phone numbers and office locations of each Dean of Students and Public Safety office are listed here. The Public Safety Office on each campus is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If a crime is reported by an individual while on campus, Public Safety will dispatch an officer to the scene of the crime for a preliminary report of the date, time and incident. If a student is involved, the preliminary report will be referred immediately to the Dean of Students for investigation. When appropriate, individuals are strongly encouraged to report complaints to the local police precinct. A priest who has a crime disclosed during the sacrament of confession may not reveal anything that has been disclosed in the sacrament. The priest, however, will encourage and work with the penitent to find appropriate support services both on and off campus. Pastoral counselors or priests who have a crime disclosed to them outside of the sacrament of confession are required to report the crime in accordance with this policy. Every member of the faculty, administration and staff of St. John’s University, acting in his or her capacity as an employee of the University, is obligated to immediately report any incident of sexual assault, rape or other forcible sexual offense against any member of the University community upon learning of the incident. Even when the individual requests confidentiality of the incident, the employee has a responsibility to report it.

Acting Responsibly

St. John's campus grounds, buildings and parking lots are well lit and frequently patrolled, but you should still use precaution to ensure your own security and that of your personal property. Keep these common-sense tips in mind:

Familiarize yourself with the campus so you can walk confidently and purposefully to your destination.

Don't carry valuables with you, but do keep a whistle handy in case you ever need to attract attention.

Be aware of your surroundings as you return to your car, or the bus stop or your Residence Hall, and don't hesitate to call Public Safety for an escort.

Never leave your pocketbook unattended, even for a moment (for example, while in the restroom, the library, or the cafeteria).

Never leave your bicycle unlocked outside or inside a building; record its serial number and keep it in your permanent records.

Always lock your parked car, keep all personal belongings in the trunk, and be sure your car keys are on a different ring from your home keys. While anti-theft equipment is not infallible, one or more will foil most amateurs and delay or deter most professionals.

Always report suspicious activities, threatening incidents, or unusual behavior to Public Safety. Even if nothing has actually occurred, Public Safety would prefer to know if there is a potential for concern.